Cotton-picker.



M. G. CUNNINGHAM.

COTTON PIOKBR.

APPLICATION mum MBA. 1914.

Patented Aug. 18, 19%

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ATTORNEYS M. G. CUNNINGHAM.

COTTON PIGKEB.

rum-r1011 FILED mum, 1914.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

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A TTURNEYS .ZYMJ/ww 6? 6 111 WITNESSES M. G. CUNNINGHAM.

COTTON PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.4, 1014.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

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COTTON PIOKER.

APPLICATION FILED NARA. 1914.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

NT UFFICE.

MATTHEW GILBRETI-I CUNNINGHAM, F CORSICANA, TEXAS.

COTTON-PICKER.

HLAM a citizen of the United States and a 7 7 its ing drawings forming resident of (lorsicana, in the county of Navarro and State of Texas, have Invented a new and Improved Cotton-Picker, of

which. the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a wheeled cotton picker having a power-driven suction means to pick the. cotton and deliver it to a receptacle, and the inventibn more particularly relates to a structure in which a body of inverted U-shape directly mounts the running wheels, as well as a motor and the necessary driving connection to propel the vehicle and to operate suction fans arranged in connection with suction boxes on the body. Furthermore, the suction boxes are formed in the sides of the body, there being double walls formed in the said sides between the front and back thereof. The inner walls of the suction boxes are advantageously continuous with the sides of the body, while the outer walls are formed by applied sheet metal. The inner Walls are variously'perforated to present inlet openings for the cotton at various heights and at various points between the front and the back ends of the U-shaped ody, the result being that suction boxes 0 a very broad area are provided of com act form that will cause the suction to be e ective in a manner to act upon the cotton bolls a-s variously positioned on the plants of a row over which the Ushaped body is propelled. In connection with the U-shaped body as referred to, a novel supporting means is provided for the front steering wheels, said means being adapted to the conformation of the body.

The invention resides in the novel features characterizing the distinctive construction and arrangement of the parts as hereinafter more particularly described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanya part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference "indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 id 2). side elevation of a cotton picker or harvester embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on approximately the line 3-43 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a front elevation, but with rear parts omitted in the interest of clearness;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 4, 1914.

tus is to be propelled.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914. Serial No. 822,310.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section taken through the suction boxes, as indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a partial plan view showing the front portion of the harvester; and Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section of one of the rear running wheels.

In constructing the practical embodiment of the invention as illustrated, a body designated generally by the numeral 10 is made of inverted U-shape in cross section, thereby presentin depending spaced sides 11 ranging lengt wise of the machine, and a top 12 constituting the U-bcnd of the body. The body mounts front running wheels 13, which are arranged as steering. wheels as hereinafter explained, and mounts rear running Wheels 14 to which power is applied for propolling the apparatus. At the forward end, and for the major portion of the length of the U-shaped body, the sides 11 are deflected at their lower edges toward each other, as at 15, to restrict the bottom longitudinal opening presented by the body for the passage of the row of plants over which the appara- The arrangement assists in gathering the stalks of the row in the upright form, and the int-urned terminals also assist in preventing the direct dropping of any detached cotton bolls so as to momentarily retard their falling and assist in bolding them in the body until the suction boxes are reached.

The suction boxes, designated generally by the numerals 16, are provided in connection with each side 11, each box being formed with double walls, of which the inner wall 17 is formed by and continuous with a side 11 of the box. The inner walls 17 are variously perforated to provide inlet openin ,s 18 for the cotton. As the boxes extend su stantially from the inturned bottom edges 15 to the top 12 and have considerable width lengthwise of the body, boxes of a broad area are provided, so that cotton bolls variously positioned on the stalks will be offectively acted upon by the suction. The outer wall. 19 of each box is desirably formed with a door 19 hinged along a vertical edge as at 20, and adapted to be held by any suitable fastener catch 21, as indicated in Fig. 1. The doors thus provide clean-out openings for the suction boxes.

In connection with the suction boxes, suction fans 22 are provided, in fan housings 22 mounted on the upper ends of the suction The said fans are mm. 1 drum 4 mm hQiOlNi 1 11 nxwpinnmd.

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'mmnthe bmfiy pivot pi of 0 21., mckably nu,- J10 $0 him; M nmy iii in he VOJJUCzll plane. buzz-511K555 are provhhxl 0n the yoke 28 r the 1 Hm rods 7 in turn the F ium'ing WI 7 In the 1 U; imi'emcu,

yoke. 3v the (ks -rihad mum m'wni, "a ited 11 (mi of the Ike J1 rm 1.0 the K WM} rmld win.

(fiqsfillz'l 31, gs and crmnechon is had hciwczm 1 and the rods 27 as :EoHmvs: For r em are in fixed m iation to the are p'n'otnll v commuted by it :38 him! 10 tending arms rods 27 and cm. ha 1: frwm Whivh chains an 35. To turn H10 mp5s 4O lmun'f connect h "-2 fumguzmd (m n (DUNN in the wank ,zmi p1,. .l out of opera prml. iuu v 1) (4-1? 0111135. on film cifumer six the or :my other domestu, or (hating befits ijlwzlnsmit cunt s to the Wh m cm nim'm 5G, said hams mating clutch 'ug; udfiWQd 0 eve-c 58 f0: .nto and out 0f 0p 111.1011. the 001M175 53". thrmm'h m g 58% 59 6:5 is in fixed z'eiutign t0- hfl. mums? h fork 58'" is muuccfly 111ml 211 K: shifting iex'er 53 V and lever conned- Mm; 436 1110511 with gear 1 whim .zue sprocket Y 6 run over the pmflkm. heck 64:,1i id "Wheels 1%. A Lfinsiml I M 66 may be en'lploye i the (chains 33: The gem:

1 s W F WllCviS 61, :15 b 0d \Ai'HHLLL dh Med wuntorshafo 07 adjacent ends uf whiuh have. bgarings in a box 67 on Lop 13 ofthe lmdy', While the ends ofihe is hmcbcmxiugs in suitable boxes 67".

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led shaft tl mskpernlits W 5 the piniuns, timkin 0:16:11. unneccsrmr n'lmsls M- turn on oi' out-t2 16d ends 1., m m an inverted U- 1 39 bar is secured in any 1' m in Fig. 3, arelnounw v indicates the top,

I which directly mounts the suitable manner to the top 12 between brackets 70, said brackets having uprights 70 in which the shaft has bearings.

The front wheels 13 are shown as formed with spokes 13, and with a dished disk 13 at the outside 01? the spokes to prevent the entran a: and the clogging of stalks; similarly, the rear wheels in addition to the spokes 14 have dished disks 14 covering the wheels at the outside.

The provision of the U-shapcd body 10 running wheels, motor, and driving elements, and the. arrangement oi the suction boxes on the sides of the body as described, result in a simple and very strong (mnstruction, and promote elliciency in operation, convenience in forming and assembling the parts, and simplicity of construction and control.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a cotton picker, a box-like body of inverted lJ-shape open at front and back and presenting an elongated bottom opening contracted at the front portion, running wheels mounted on the depending sides ot' the body, a motor mounted on the top of said body, suction means, and driving connections between the motor and suction means, a portion of the sides of the body between the ends of the latter having double walls forming broad suction boxes at opposite sides extending substantially from the bottom to the top of the sides, the suction boxes being in communication with the suction means,

the inner wall or each suction box having numerous inlet openings for the entrance of cotton at various points over the area of the said box, the outer wall of the suction boxes having doors.

2. In a cotton picker, a body of inverted Ushape, an inverted U-shaped yoke on the lody, said yoke comprising a top cross bar and depending side arms, the said cross bar being pivotally mounted at its center on the body for vertical rocking movement, vertical .rods ranging along said side arms, bearings on the yoke at each side for the said rods, running wheels on the lower ends of the rods, and means for turning said rods.

In a cotton picker, a body of inverted U-shape having cotton-picking means, steering wheels at the front of the body, vertically disposed roekable rods mounting said wheels, a U-shapcd yoke pivotally mounted at its center on the body to rock in a vertical plane and having bearings for said rods, laterally projecting guide brackets on the body forming guides for the yoke and rods, ac ditional brackets on the top of the body between which the top bar of the yoke is positioned, and means for rocking the rods.

in testimony whereof I. have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MATTHEW GlhBRE'lll CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses Dm lV. CALDWELL, Josnrn vi-ISLE! Evans. 

